February 17, 2008

Name:

Lilli, Pip

Age:

17, 15 years old

Gender:

Male

Kind:

Cockatiels

Home:

San Francisco, California, USA

These
are my cockatiels, seventeen-year-old Lilligiggle "Lilli"
Twinkletoes and fifteen-year-old Epiphany "Pip" Pipsqueak. Although they
have spent a few spells of quality time with my folks at "chez
grandparents" while I studied or worked overseas, Lilli, Pip and I have
been together since each of them was a baby bird, through seven
apartments in four cities. Our last big move involved flying across the
country (in an airplane) to our new home in San Francisco, CA. They're
my flock, and I love them like crazy...there's so much that makes them
special.

Lilli is a bloodthirsty, vicious pterodactyl trapped in the body of a
gray cockatiel. He enjoys eating books, flirting with stinky shoes,
singing to the beautiful gray bird that lives in the bathroom mirror,
and biting people. Lilli is articulate and expressive, and his talents
include exclaiming, "Mmm-WAH!" when he permits himself to be kissed on
the head and saying "Hello! Hello!" whenever he hears a telephone ring.
He does not like new toys or new foods.

Pip earned the nickname, "Little Pickin' Chicken" during an unfortunate
feather picking phase back in the mid-90's, which he outgrew thanks to
good veterinary care and an improved diet. Because Pip has cataracts in
both eyes, he doesn't see well and dislikes any changes to the
arrangement of his cage. Pip also dislikes earthquakes, sirens and
alarms of all kinds. Blessed with the personality of a cuddly puppy, his
talents include preening his people and attacking their ears. Pip has a
wonky foot that is missing half a toe, and is arthritic in his other
foot; for this reason, Pip enjoys wide, cement perches that are easy to
hold onto. Pip also enjoys having his head preened, tummy kisses, and
anything shiny.

I hope you enjoy their photo, they don't hold still ... are very
uncooperative when the camera is out, so I was happy to get this shot
where they are both in focus and looking at the camera! We've been a
flock for a long time ... I've noticed that lots of people nominate
birds that are a year or two old, and I am always happy to see selected
pets that are much older, because I think it reinforces the important
idea that birds are a really serious commitment due to their long
lifespans.